Journal, Turning 21 [December 4th-5th]

Todd Redman Journal – Becoming 21.

            December 4^th was the day before my birthday.  It all came so quickly, especially after Thanksgiving break which ended on November 27^th.  To a lot of people, the last big number to celebrate is 21, after having celebrated 18 and 16 as other coming-of-age birthdays.  However, this day had come so quickly, and my mind was preoccupied with papers and presentations (in fact, December 4^th evening I recorded a final presentation video with my teammates), so I was not prepared to make great celebration out of turning 21.

            I recalled the joyous remarks of fellow young adults who were excited to go out for a drink the moment they turned 21.  I also remembered some comedy videos online where a person would ask for a beer at 11:59 and be denied, only to obtain it just a minute later.  These ideas crossed my fancy for a moment, but passed soon after.  I was never a person who wanted to go drinking or partying.  I’ve always been a very academic and well-kept individual who likes quiet celebrations with his close friends.  As all my friends were busy during these weeks of final preparations, I found my last hour before December 5^th to be solitary and quiet.  To fill in this time, I decided to go for a nice walk.

            It was crisp and cold outside, and I was smart to bring a jacket or two.  Campus was dark as well, it being 11:15 at night by this time.  I took some photos of the interesting things I saw in the evening as I meandered through the place.  I first stopped by Frog Fountain, always a gorgeous place to visit.  The water had been turned off, but there were still droplets quietly dripping into the shimmering pool.  The colorful yellow light from the commons mingled with the purple hazy lights of the fountain, and it all looked so mellow and pensive.  If this was a moment in a book I was writing, I would say the fountain symbolized the peaceful and reflective qualities of my own mind as I gazed upon the structure.

            Along my walk, I saw Frog Henge, and the stone pillars were steadfast in their circular ritual.  Everything looked darker, but not in an unpleasant way.  It was very tranquil and quiet.  The cold air became noticeable for a moment, so I picked up my pace.

                                                                             

I walked through the corridors along the commons, which were nicely lit despite it being nighttime.  I caught a glimpse of some trees along the way, and I paused to observe their colorful collective of leaves.  Despite the dark night, they were still illuminated, their clean edges visible and eloquent.

            I wondered to myself if such a walk as this would be a viable journal for my Treks and Texts class as I wrapped up the semester.  I thought about how my walk was spur of the moment and not brimming with meaning and themes.  I was just about to turn 21 in a matter of minutes by now, and I walked back through the doors of my dorm.  This was not a thoroughly exciting night, but a peaceful and thoughtful one.  I decided that this indeed was a meaningful walk anyways, because I was able to enjoy the peace and darkness of nature without any goal or purpose.  I think that especially in these days of finals, and soon of Christmas, that taking some time to walk around and observe the quiet beauty of nature is important, to clear one’s mind and experience a little joy in the world around us.  I’m glad that I didn’t need a beer to have a good time this night,